Navel Piercing: Belly Jewellery, FAQs & Guide

Navel piercings were a popular trend in the 90s and have remained popular ever since. The belly button piercing is a great option for those wanting a piercing that they can choose to either show off or hide and with so many detailed and elaborate belly bars out there, there’s definitely plenty of chance to show off your navel piercing. Want to know more about navel piercing before and after getting it done? We have gathered a list of your FAQs to help you with all things belly button related.

Is navel piercing painful?

A navel piercing is painful but belly button piercings hurt less than other types of piercing because it is pierced through soft tissue rather than cartilage, however you will initially experience some pain. Everyone experiences piercing pain differently but most people say that while it hurts it is only a brief pinching feeling. If significant belly button piercing pain occurs after you have had your piercing then make sure to consult your doctor or piercer.

How is navel piercing done?

Many people ask how belly button piercing is done. The piercing procedure is similar to most other piercings. Your piercer will mark the top of your belly button in the centre. You will get a chance to check you are happy with the location before they start piercing. The piercer will then pass a cannula needle through the marked site. They will sometimes use clamps to keep the area still and taut. After passing the needle through, the piercer will insert your chosen jewellery and your navel piercing is done.

Can I wear high waisted jeans with a belly button piercing?

When first getting your belly button piercing and during healing, it is best not to wear high waisted jeans as these will rub and put pressure on your piercing. Wearing low rise trousers and a loose-fitting top will help your navel piercing to heal. Once your piercing has healed you can wear high waist trousers but low rise jeans will help you to show off your new piercing.

How much is belly piercing?

The average belly button piercing price is £35 - £40. The navel piercing price may vary depending on the type of jewellery you choose. We recommend choosing high quality piercing jewellery, even if it costs a little more, as this will help the healing process. Belly button piercing cost will vary depending on where you go to get your piercing but sometimes the price reflects the experience of the piercer so bear this in mind when choosing your piercing studio.

Is navel piercing dangerous?

There are some risks to navel piercing, just like any other piercing but belly button piercings are not considered to be dangerous. You can experience problems if you leave a navel piercing infection untreated so make sure to keep up with good aftercare. Cleaning your piercing twice a day will help prevent dangerous infections. If you do suspect that you have an infection make sure to consult your doctor as you may need antibiotics.There is a slightly higher chance that you may get a belly button piercing infection, compared to other piercing locations because of the amount of time this piercing takes to heal. Wearing loose clothing can also help as it will reduce the chances of your piercing jewellery getting caught which can lead to a navel piercing scar.

Can you feel the bar of a belly piercing?

You may be able to feel the bar of a belly piercing depending on how deep the piercing is. You may not initially be able to feel it with your fingers if there is swelling around your navel piercing. If it starts to look like the navel bar is too close to the surface and you can see the belly button bar your piercing may be rejecting. You should consult your piercer as to the best course of action. Initially you may feel very aware of the jewellery in your new piercing but as the piercing heals and becomes more comfortable you will soon forget about it and it will feel normal.

Do you have to have a flat stomach to get a belly button piercing?

You do not have to have a flat stomach to get a belly button piercing. There is no recommended body fat percentage so if you want to get a belly button piercing then you flaunt it! Your piercer will be able to discuss the suitability of your belly button for a navel piercing. The main thing to consider is if your belly button folds in when you sit down as this will make it difficult to heal a piercing and may make the jewellery feel uncomfortable.

What should I wear to get my belly button pierced?

It is important to consider the clothes you wear to get your belly button piercing. Choose an outfit with a loose-fitting top and low rise trousers or skirt. A shirt that is too tight will rub against the new piercing and may be harder to roll up for the piercing procedure. Low rise trousers will make sure your clothes do not get in the way of your new piercing while it is still healing. You may need to check you can have a belly button piercing done as not all navels are suitable for piercing.

Will my belly button piercing stretch during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, your belly will expand as your baby grows so while you may initially be able to wear your belly button piercing, you will eventually need to take it out. It is likely that the piercing bar in your navel piercing will not be long enough to accommodate the stretch during pregnancy. You may also find the tautness of the skin starts to cause the belly button piercing to push towards the surface of the skin, therefore you will want to take out your belly button piercing before it breaks through the skin or becomes uncomfortably tight. Most people recommend that by around week 20 of pregnancy you will want to remove your piercing as your belly will have grown.

Is it normal for a navel piercing to be red?

When a piercing is new it is normal for a navel piercing to be red. This is your body reacting to the initial piercing procedure and the redness is likely to be coupled with swelling which can last for the first couple of weeks of having your belly button piercing. With good navel piercing aftercare, you should find your belly button piercing becomes more comfortable and clears up over time. If you catch your piercing during healing you may notice the redness return. This is to be expected but it is important to keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn’t become infected after being caught. Catching your piercing may slow down the healing process.

Belly button piercing healing takes 6 -12 months so you will need to be patient and keep up with aftercare, twice a day for a long time. Commit to giving your belly button piercing a saltwater solution or Tea Tree Oil wash twice a day with cotton wool. Belly button piercing healing time will vary for each person and can depend on other factors such as if you catch the piercing of if it gets infected.

Can you sleep on your stomach with a belly piercing?

Like with most piercings, it is best not to sleep on your stomach with a new belly piercing. Once it has healed you may find it is ok to sleep or lie on your stomach. Initially, you will want to put as little pressure on your new belly piercing as possible. Lying on the stomach could irritate your new piercing and can have other effects such as limiting the amount of oxygen that can reach your piercing to help it heal and stay fresh.

Belly button piercings come in all shapes and sizes depending on your belly button but here at Blue Banana, we think every midriff is beautiful and if you want to show it off then go for it! Unfortunately, some belly buttons are not suitable for navel piercings but your piercer will be able to advise on whether you are a suitable candidate for a navel piercing. If you have an outie belly button you won’t be able to have the classic belly button piercing but some people choose to celebrate their outie by piercing it. A bar is passed through your actual belly button for a totally unusual type of navel piercing.

If you have a larger belly button you may be able to have a double navel piercing. This is usually done by having the traditional placement above the belly button and another below the belly button. Other configurations include studs in the positions of a compass. With your FAQs on navel piercing answered why not head to our other Piercing Guides to soak up even more piercing information.

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Piercing Procedure

Ready to get a navel piercing? Use our store locator to find your local Blue Banana Studio. There’s no need to book an appointment; you can simply go to the store of your choice and be pierced on the day.

Make sure to check the navel piercing age restriction before coming to store. It can help to avoid any undue disappointment. In a Blue Banana studio, the navel piercing age restriction is 16 (ID may be required) or 13 with parental consent from a parent or guardian who is present.

Once you’re all booked in, you will have some forms to fill out. A member of Blue Banana staff will go through the steps and can help you pick out jewellery. Then you can meet the piercer! They too will give you a quick consultation and briefing before discussing the navel piercing location.

Navel piercings are done with a cannula which is a type of piercing needle. The needle I passed through the skin followed by the piercing jewellery. Your piercer may clamp or pinch the skin while performing this piercing to ensure it stays still and is pierced in the correct place.

Aftercare Advice

A navel piercing can take 6-12 months to fully heal. The healing time varies from person to person and will need top aftercare to ensure successful healing.

During the healing process, it is important to avoid knocking the piercing or putting pressure on the area as this will slow down healing and can even cause unnecessary problems. Navel piercings can get caught on clothing so make sure to wear lose clothing and low rise trousers. It is best to avoid laying on your stomach during healing as this will put pressure on your piercing.

When cleaning your navel piercing, make sure to wash your hands with antibacterial soap before touching your piercing. Gently clean your navel piercing twice a day with salt water solution or Tea Tree Oil by bathing it using cotton wool.

If you would like further information, make sure to read our full Piercing Aftercare Guides to learn about side effects to look out for.

Choosing Piercing Jewellery

There’s plenty of options when it comes to navel piercing jewellery from Blue Banana. Some popular styles include:

Belly Button Bars
Navel Piercing Jewellery

There are a range of colours and designs to choose from in our navel piercing jewellery range. Although it can be tempting to change your piercing jewellery before the piercing has fully healed, it is best to wait, especially if you are changing to elaborate jewellery with parts that are more likely to get caught. When choosing your piercing jewellery there are a few things you should consider:

Jewellery Size – Make sure to find out from your piercer the size your navel piercing jewellery should be.
Jewellery Material – piercing materials differ not only through their look but also how they could react to your skin.

If you have sensitive skin that is prone to irritation, one of the many Titanium jewellery options is recommended. This material comes in a variety of colours and is durable too! When searching for a piece of jewellery make sure you know your measurements. We display the piercing jewellery measurements as Gauge first (displayed in millimetres) then Length, e.g. 1.2mm x 8mm.

Gauge – this is the thickness of the jewellery itself.
Length – the length of the piercing bar, usually not including the ball.

Make sure to check out the tips from our piercing guides for information about changing and removing piercing jewellery.

Other Guides & Ranges

Please Note: Blue Banana piercing information is based on knowledge from our experiences as one of the UK's top piercing studios. All details provided should be read alongside professional advice. Please see our full Piercing Articles Disclaimer, here.

Navel Piercing Jewellery